Baling presses



May 1 6, 1961 Filed April 16. 1958 H. W. JONES BALING PRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1 a +1 F 1 i PM? m E T {I INVENTOR W 4 Mm ATTORNEYS May 16, 1961 H. w. JON 5s BALING PRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1958 IN VENTOR /4/P/?y mac/v55,

BY M i ATTORNEYS H. W. JONES BALING PRESSES May 16, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS y 6, 1961 H. w. JONES 2,984,174

BALING PRESSES Filed April 16, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR fl/WFR/ kid/OM55,

ATTORNEYS y 1961 H. w. JONES 2,984,174

BALING PRESSES Filed April 16, 1958 5 s t s 5 Alli l ATTORNEYE f ilnitecl States Patent F BALING PRESSES Harry W. Jones, Knoxville, Tenn., assignor to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., a corporation of Tennessee Filed Apr. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 728,834

6 Claims. (Cl. 100-149) This invention relates to improvements in baling presses and more particularly to such presses as are used for baling scrap metal and large bodies of metal, such as automobile bodies.

In the baling of large composite structures, such as automobile bodies, these are usually much larger in area than the compression chamber of a baling press, so that a complete body is not capable of being introduced into the baling press. This has required that the body be cut up into fragments, each of which can be introduced sep arately. For example, the frame and bumpers may be removed and the remaining structure severed transversely into two parts which are introduced separately into the compression chamber of the press. Such a procedure involvesa great deal of additional work and renders the baling operation slow and laborious.

Attempts have been made to correct this difiiculty by constructing a baling press with an abnormally large compression chamber sufficient in size and area to receive a complete automobile body therein. Due to the size of the structure and the enormously high hydraulic pressures required for its operation, such a press is so large and expensive as to render it impractical for most operators. -Nevertheless, there is a need for a practical baling press that will receive and bale an entire vehicle body.

One object of thisinvention is to fulfill the need for a baling press of practical size and relatively inexpensive construction into which an entire vehicle body, or other structure of comparable size, can be introduced and compressed into a bale.

Another object of the invention is to improve the construction of baling presses to enable these to accommodate much larger materials than can be introduced ordinarily into the presses.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for an initial reduction of a large body before it is introduced into the compression chamber of the baling press, without adding appreciablyto ,the cost thereof or the amount of equipment needed...

A still further object of the invention is to provide for aninitial compression or reduction of a vehicle body immediately beside or adjacent to a baling press while the baling operation of a previous charge is being completed in the latter.

These objects may be accomplished according, to one embodiment of the invention, by providinga precompressor adjacent or beside a baling press for reducing the length of an automobile body, for example, or the size of alarge body that is to be introduced into the compression chamber of the press. This precompressing attachment includes aback wall that forms a rigid stop for the vehicle or other body, a platform for supporting the body, and a compression head operated by hydraulic pressure, or othersuitable means, acting in opposition to the. back wall to reduce the overall length of the body while it issupported on the platform. This operation maybe accomplished during a baling operationin the resser a previous charge introduced thereim' Inasmuch as the precompressor acts only to reduce the overall length of the body, the structure does not involve side walls and top enclosing a compression chamber, nor the hydraulic pressure needed for a complete baling operation. Thus, the cost of the attachment can be kept at a minimum and does not add appreciably to the cost of the baling press. Nevertheless, it makes possible the introduction of an entire vehicle body into the compression chamber of a baling press, without initially or separately severing the body into sections, nor materially reducing the speed of the baling action.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a baling press, shown somewhat diagrammatically, with the precompressor attachment applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof, illustrating the precompressor;

Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation of a portion of the baling press, with the platform mounted thereon in a modified position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, showing the baling press and precompressor in operation, in position where the vehicle body is introduced into the compression chamber; and

Fig. 6 is a. similar view after the body has been dropped into the compression chamber.

The invention may be used in connection with any suitable or desired form of baling press, but is illustrated as applied to a press of the character set forth in my prior. patent, No. 2,616,312, granted November 4, 1952, as an example of one form of baling press with which this device may be used. 1

The baling press is-shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2 and is illustrated also in Figs. 5 and 6. The press includes a compression chamber, generally indicated at 1, within which the bale is formed, said chamber having surrounding sides and a closed end and a cover 2 adapted to close the top thereof during the baling operation. The compression head is shown at,3, operated by suitable hydraulic pressure, as described more in detail in the aforesaid patent.

At one side of the press box within which the cham ber 1 is formed, and mounted on a cover plate 4 on the box, is a compression door, generally indicated at 5. The compression door 5 is hinged at 6 on the cover plate 4 for swinging movement into and out of the compression chamber 1. This swinging movement is accom plished by hydraulic power devices, generally indicated at 7.

Suitable means is provided for accomplishing the baling operation in the compression chamber 1, in addition to the head 3. Such means is not described in detail because any suitable construction thereof may be used, as desired, and one embodiment thereof has been set forth more in detail in the aforesaid patent, No. 2,616,312.

Mounted on the baling press, on the opposite side thereof from the compression door 5, is a platform 3. This platform 8 should be sufficiently sturdy and rigid to support the article to which the precompressing action is to be applied. It is shown as formed with a plate at the surface thereof, suitably braced by ribs to provide a sturdy and rigid structure.-

The platform 8, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, has laterally extending brackets 9 pivoted at 10 to upright supports 11 that extend upwardly beside the compression chamber 1 beneath a top plate 12 at the adjacent side of said chamber. Thus, the platform 8 is capable of swinging movement from a substantially horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to an upwardly extending position, as shown in dotted lines therein and in Fig. 6. Hy-

draulic power devices 13 are pivotally connected at 14 with the brackets 9 and at 15 with the supporting frame structure 16 of the baling press for accomplishing this swinging operation.

If desired, the platform 8 may be pivoted upon the top plate 12 of the baling press, as indicated at 10' in Fig. 4. The hydraulic power devices that are connected with the platform operate it, as described, and as illustrated in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, to accomplish the feeding movements in connection with the baling press.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the platform 3 is lowered to a normal position overlying and seated upon longitudinal sills 17 carried by supporting structures 18 and extending parallel with the length of the baling press.

Also carried by the sills 117 and extending in longitudinal alignment with the top surface of the platform 8, in its lowered position is a supporting bed 19. A pressure head is mounted on the bed plate 19 and suitably guided relative thereto, so as to operate toward and from the platform 8 in a position substantially at one edge of said platform. A fixed head or back stop 21 is mounted on the supporting structure 17-18 at the opposite side of the platform 8, and the head 20 moves toward and from the fixed head 21 in compressing the vehicle body therebetween.

The compression head 20 is carried on a piston rod 22 extending into a hydraulic cylinder 23 for operation in the usual manner by hydraulic pressure. One or more such hydraulic cylinders may be used for the head, according to the size and pressure desired.

The hydraulic system and control means for operating the head 20 are not illustrated in detail because any suitable hydraulic control can be used, as desired, or the hydraulic pressure obtained from the hydraulic system of the press.

The present compression device is adapted for reducing the overall length of a vehicle or other body prior to its introduction into the chamber 1 of the baling press. The entire body, either with or without the frame and bumpers, is initially laid on the platform 8 and bed plate 19 between the heads 20 and 21. The usual or desired handling means can be employed for putting the body in place, such as a crane, magnet, grabs, or the like.

With the body thus supported, the hydraulic cylinder or cylinders 23 are operated to force the head 20 toward the fixed head or back stop 21 and thereby reduce the overall length of the vehicle body to a size sufficient to be accommodated within the compression chamber 1 of the baling press. Usually, the length of the platform 8 will correspond with the length of the compression chamber 1, whereby the head 20 will be moved to the adjacent edge of the platform 8, thus reducing the overall length sufliciently for the introduction of the body into the compression chamber.

As soon as the baling operation of the previously introduced material has been completed in the compression chamber 1, in the usual manner of operating such a baling press, the body reduced in size or length and resting on the platform 8 can be dumped into the compression chamber. This action is accomplished, as illustrated in Fig. 5, by operating the hydraulic cylinders 13 and thereby raising the platform 8 to an inclined position, which causes the body, shown at B in Figs. 5 and 6, to slide off the platform and into the compression chamber 1. The raising movement of the platform 8 is continued to a vertical position, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. '1 and also in Fig. 6, which insures of the complete enclosing of the body at the corresponding side of the comgressicgn chamber during the operation of the compression oor After the body is thus introduced into the compression chamber by the operation of the platform 8, the compression door 5 is lowered by the actuation of the hydraulic power devices 7 and forced downward into the compression chamber, the start of this action being indicated in Fig. 6. The door 5 may be moved downward one or more times into the compression chamber to collapse the body therein and to insure that it will be low enough for the closure of the cover plate 2 thereover. This door 5 acts as a precompressor for the body, further reducing the size thereof.

Thereafter, the usual baling operations are carried out first by the actuation of the plunger 3 to compress the body lengthwise of the chamber 1 into the reduced size, after which a transverse head is actuated for further reducingthe size of the material into a compact bale.

As soon as the actuation of the compression door 5 has been stopped and the cover door 2 closed, ready for the baling operations, the platform 8 is lowered to its horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Then, another body can be set into the place on the platform 8 and the precompression thereof accomplished simultaneously during the formation of the preceding body into a compact bale. Thus, there is no loss of time and the baling of each body can be accomplished without the necessity for introducing the body piece-by-piece. The precompression structure is relatively simple and adds comparatively little to the cost of the baling press and yet it makes possible the baling of an entire vehicle body at one operation and without requiring that it be cut up into separate parts. The resulting structure is materially less in cost than an enlarged baling press that would accommodate a complete body and effects a substantial saving in cost of operation, as compared with the cutting up of bodies into separate parts.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in one embodiment, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a baling press, the combination with a compression chamber having means for forming material therein into a bale, of a platform extending laterally from the compression chamber beside the latter adapted to receive said material in the form of a device thereon for compression action, means pivotally mounting the platform for swinging movement to transfer said device into the compression chamber, and means for imparting compression action to the device on the platform.

2. In a baling press, the combination with a compression chamber having means for compressing material into a compact bale therein, of a platform extending laterally from the compression chamber, means pivotally mounting the platform on the compression chamber for swinging movement to direct material into the compression chamber, power means for operating the platform, and means for initially compressing the material on the platform prior to actuation of the platform to deliver the material into the compression chamber.

3. In a baling press, the combination with a compression chamber having means for compressing material into a compact bale therein, of a platform extending laterally from the compression chamber, means pivotally mounting the platform on the compression chamber for swinging movement to direct material into the compression chamber, power means for operating the platform, a fixed head at one side of the platform, a movable head at the opposite side of the platform, power means operatively connected with the movable head for actuating the latter, said fixed and movable heads being mounted for receiving a unitary structure therebetween and for initially compressing said structure on the platform prior to introduction into the compression chamber.

4. In a baling press, the combination with a compression chamber having an open top adapted to receive deformable material therein and having means for compressing said material therein, a platform extending laterally from said compression chamber, means pivotally mounting the platform adjacent the top of said chamber for movement from a substantially horizontal position to an upright position to dump material from the platform into the open top of the compression chamber, and means for pre-compressing material while supported on the platform in the substantially horizontal position.

5. In a baling press, the combination with a compression chamber having an open top adapted to receive deformable material therein and having means for compressing said material therein, a platform extending laterally from said compression chamber, means pivotally mounting the platform adjacent the top of said chamber to dump material from the platform into the open top of the compression chamber, a back stop at one side of the platform, and means on the opposite side of the platform mounted for movement toward the back stop for pre-compressing the material while supported on the platform.

6. In a baling press, the combination with a compression chamber having an open top adapted to receive deformable material therein and having means for compressing said material therein, a platform extending laterally from said compression chamber, means pivotally mounting the platform adjacent the top of said chamber to dump material from the platform into the open top of the compression chamber, and said platform being lowered to a substantially horizontal position, supporting means for said platform in said horizontal position, a back stop at one side of the platform in said horizontal position, and means on the opposite side of the platform for pre-compressing the material while supported on the platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,413 Lazzatto May 8, 1900 1,270,145 Garwood June 18, 1918 1,812,797 Lindemann June 30, 1931 1,879,356 Lindemann Sept. 27, 1932 2,381,620 Russell Aug. 7, 1945 2,643,558 Lindemann et a1 June 30, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 26,989 Germany 1884- 

